Hawks gear-up for pivotal night

The Hawks can take a big step towards National League South safety by beating Truro City at Westleigh Park tonight (7.45pm).
Warren Cummings. Picture: Paul Jacobs (150487-5)Warren Cummings. Picture: Paul Jacobs (150487-5)
Warren Cummings. Picture: Paul Jacobs (150487-5)

A win will lift them out of the bottom three and above their two relegation threatened rivals – St Albans City and Margate – with one game left.

Anything less than a win, however, will keep Lee Bradbury’s side in the drop zone.

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It would also leave them facing a tense final day of the season on Saturday – and relying on other results elsewhere to stay up.

Bradbury is urging his players to get the right result tonight and keep their fate in their own hands.

‘At the moment we are in charge of our own destiny and want to keep it that way,’ said the Hawks boss.

‘To do that, we have to win this game.

‘Whatever the result it is still going to go down to the wire on the last day.

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‘But it is vital we get ourselves into the best possible position before that.

‘Our win at Concord Rangers was huge for us and we can take a lot of confidence from it.

‘The attitude of the players was spot-on and we are going to need the same again.

‘We know the job isn’t done yet and we still face two massive games.’

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Bradbury can take a lot of encouragement from the determination of his players at Concord. Their pride had obviously been badly dented by the heavy defeat the previous week at St Albans.

But there was no sulking or feeling sorry for themselves.

Instead the players showed signs they are up for the fight to stay in the league.

They put their bodies on the line when it mattered and came away with a vital three points.

Without that victory the Hawks would now be in dire straits.

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Instead they have given themselves a realistic chance of survival.

The return of experienced defenders Warren Cummings and Brian Dutton made a big difference.

They shored up a defence that had conceded six goals the previous game.

And also helped restore a degree of mental strength to the side at a time when it was desperately needed.

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Bradbury said: ‘Having experienced players in there made a difference.

‘We made better decisions and the players came off at the end of the game with renewed belief in themselves. That was essential after the previous game.

‘Now they have to be prepared to go out and do it all over again.

‘Truro have some quick players who can hit you on the break, so we will have to make sure we stay focused in defence.’

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The home side are still without their captain Brian Stock, who is serving the last game of his two-match ban.

HAWKS: Young, Strugnell, Hill, Dutton, Cummings, Lewis, Donnelly, Robinson, Mullings, Swallow, Barker, Paterson, Haran, Mitchell, Medway, Molyneaux

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